A friend of mine is looking for ideas on a toy to use for intense, two handed tugging (she has a Malinois). She can't afford to buy one from a working dog site, so was wondering if anyone had ever made one that works well.

Well ... it's pretty ghetto, but I've definitely cut the legs off a pair of old jeans and knotted the ends and used them for tugging. Denim is pretty easy on the hands if it's worn in, but it holds up surprisingly well if you don't leave it with your dog when you're not playing.

I always make my own tug toys... Usually out of fleece, but you can also make them from something more durable. I go by these instructions (it's in our language, sorry, but the pictures show it well enough): http://www.zverce.si/naredi-sam-pletena-cufa

Thanks guys for the suggestions! I will pass those on. Really what I think she needs are ringsport tugs (which she has borrowed and loved but they're pricey). But I bet some of these will give her good ideas.